Friday, 25 September 2015

Milan (A Wedding Story)

Author: Simi K. Rao

The first page of Simi K. Rao's Milan - The Wedding Story has an invitation from the author, addressed to the readers, for the wedding of Mili Bharadwaj and Ahaan Kapoor.

A book dedicated to the readers always feels extra special. As I read the dedication, it feels as if it is personally calling out to me. Thanks Simi K. Rao for dedicating this one to your readers.

The first chapter of the book (titled 'Mili') takes us to the picturesque Serenity Tea Estate in Coonoor which is Mili's home. Mili's life in the rich household, complete with the ubiquitous Ramu Kaka, seems to be perfect.

But this perfection has minor smears. As Mili thinks of her problems, and then waves them off mentally with 'I'll worry about it later', she reminded me of Scarlett O'Hara's 'I'll think about it tomorrow'.

Enter the quintessential hero Ahaan Kapoor and the stage is set for a delightful story of romance and love.

I know from the word go that Mili and Ahaan are to get married. But everything from their first meeting as grown-ups to the incidents of their past associations had me invested in their life.

Through the journey of Milan - The Wedding Story, the reader sees Mili grow as an individual. From a person who has not thought of much beyond herself and her immediate family, she matures into one who learns to love and accept and yet, stand up for what she truly believes in.

So, although I was reminded of Gone with the Wind's Scarlett as the book started, Mili matured through the course of this story.

From the decision of getting married and discovering (and accepting) her own feelings, Mili blossoms through the few weeks of Milan - The Wedding Story.

Confidence and Self-doubt, Attraction and Restraint play through the engrossing story of Mili and Ahaan, and their search for true love.

There is a part of me (the realist) which knows that Mili's and Ahaan's life cannot continue to be perfect forever, that life has a way of creeping in and changing things with time. And then there is the other part (the one that is lost in the words of Milan) that wants to hold on to the magic of first love that will hold forever.

What makes Milan - The Wedding Story special is that it is not just a story of love, it is also a tale of friendship, realisation of past mistakes and self-discovery.

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Milan (A Wedding Story)

When a daughter turns marriageable age, what should a responsible father do? Easy--wed her to the most suitable boy who comes knocking on the door. Jai Bharadwaj, Mili's father and owner of The Serenity Tea Estate in the idyllic Nilgiris would've probably liked to do the same, but being who he was, he had to ask her first. What would she say?

Indians in general are deeply rooted in tradition. Our culture gives us our identity. Most of us (especially those living away from the homeland) cling to it, even though several aspects in these particularly modern times, make no sense at all. Why do we do so? Perhaps because it brings us together as a community and provides us comfort in a foreign environment. The same I think applies to immigrants from all over the globe.

Marriages in India, in particular Hindu marriages are long drawn intricate affairs fraught with age old tradition. Little has changed over the centuries except for certain embellishments due to modernization. To non-Indians these ceremonies appear just that—elaborate colorful rituals flavored with plenty of pomp and show.

In the following story I take my readers on a ‘behind the scenes' tour at a traditional Indian wedding. I’ve tried to illustrate the proceedings from engagement to the wedding ceremony with “generalized” Indians---my characters, and have also made an attempt to expound on the emotional upheavals that occur in the background and often aren’t spoken out loud. Milan is more of a ‘short story’ concept where it shows the before/during and after of an event than it is a ‘long novel’ about characters with hopes and dreams and goals. And its purpose is exactly that, to show the emotions Indian couples go through during the process of a wedding. This story may help the reader get a better insight into the culture of marriage in India.

The Setting of MILAN:

Whenever I travel back to my homeland, I prepare for a culture shock. The crowds, the noise, the pollution have all increased several fold as the country races forward at breakneck speed to catch up with the rest of the world. There are very places left where it still seems like life goes on as it did a few decades ago, where people are laid back and nature is not at war with mankind.

MILAN is set in one such place; Coonoor-- a hill town located in the Nilgiri Hills, about 56 kms from the Coimbatore Airport, in the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu.It is part way from its more well-known cousin Ooty. I spent some time there during my last trip and was so enchanted that I chose to use it as a setting for my story. Known for its tea plantations, Coonoor is a lovely, rustic little town. With its abundance of greenery and quaint architecture it is a throwback to India as it used to be. The temperate climate and serene environment help the restless soul to relax and take a few breaths of peace. When you are there, don't forget to take a ride on the Nilgiris meter gauge train, as well as a personalized tour of the tea estates.

I want to thank Debdatta for giving me this opportunity to express myself and for hosting this blog tour. I also want to thank all the bloggers who are participating in this tour and have made space for my book on their blog. Your time and generosity is much appreciated.

Simi K. Rao was born and grew up in both northern and southern India before relocating to the U.S., where she has lived for several years. She is the author of multicultural contemporary romantic fiction.The inspiration for her books and other creative projects comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances.Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.Much of Rao's down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver with her family. Her published works include Inconvenient Relations and The Accidental Wife. She is currently at work on her next release.